Southern California -- this just in

No charges filed in case of suspicious miscarriage, but investigation continues

October 27, 2009 | 5:41
pm

Los Angeles County prosecutors did not file charges Tuesday against a 37-year-old restaurant investor who police suspect caused the miscarriage of a 13-week-old fetus.

Joshua Woodward, an investor in restaurants including Table 8 in Los Angeles and Miami, was booked on suspicion of murder Sunday and ordered held at the Wilshire Division jail in lieu of $2-million bail.

However, police did not present their case to prosecutors today as planned, and it appears that Woodward will soon be released from custody. By law, criminal suspects must be freed from jail if they are not formally charged within 48 hours.

"Police did not formally present a case today," said Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney.

Woodward was arrested Sunday in the 3600 block of West 3rd Street. A police news release said his arrest stemmed from the "suspicious circumstances of a miscarriage."

Sources familiar with the case, who did not want to be identified because of the ongoing investigation, said Woodward was suspected of placing an unspecified powder in the vaginal area of his girlfriend. The sources said police are in the process of testing the powder.

Los Angeles Police Cmdr. Pat Gannon would not elaborate on the circumstances of the case, which he called "unusual," and said the investigation was continuing.